Honda Just Unexpectedly Put a Stop on Its Cult-Favorite Pickup Truck

The current Ridgeline is supposedly dead and until a next-gen model arrives.

Front view of a gray Honda SUV splashing mud on a dirt road with LED headlights on.

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Published May 27, 2026

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The Honda Ridgeline is experiencing an unexpected death. The Japanese automaker will be punching the stop button on the model’s production later this year. And it’s apparently due to its failure to meet the latest round of emissions compliance.

Automotive News broke the news about Honda’s decision. Although the production pause isn’t expected until the fourth quarter of 2026, it will put the Ridgeline on ice for about 18 months.

An unforeseen end to the current Ridgeline

Gray Honda pickup truck kicking up dust and rocks on a rugged dirt terrain with mountains in the background. — Honda’s current-gen controversial, yet beloved Ridgeline pickup will be coming to an abrupt end later this year.

Because Honda will be pausing the Ridgeline’s production for the better part of two years, that timing essentially brings an end to the current model’s series production lifecycle. Once Honda hits the pause button, the Ridgeline apparently won’t come back until 2028/2029.

This is around the time Honda had planned to launch a third-gen model. The current Ridgeline launched in 2016 as a 2017 model-year car. It’s over a decade old at this point.

Blue pickup truck driving through water with two red Honda dirt bikes in the bed, mountains in background. — Although a major source of debate in the pickup world, the Ridgeline earned cult status among fans.

That’s long by any production model lifecycle metric and it’s typically indicative of a next-gen model arrival. However, because Honda is in a bit of a pickle as it pivots away from its aggressive electrification initiative, that’s leaving production and model revision gaps along the way.

And unfortunately, the Ridgeline is experiencing one of those gaps.

The main reason behind the Ridgeline’s abrupt end is due to its recent failure to meet California’s stricter emissions compliance. This is even despite the Trump Administration rolling back emissions rules on the federal level.

Black plastic engine cover with "HONDA" embossed, surrounded by various engine components in a car engine bay. — The Ridgeline still uses Honda’s venerable naturally-aspirated V6, but not for much longer as it failed to meet emissions compliance in California.

The Ridgeline still uses Honda’s venerable and ubiquitous 3.5-liter “J-Series” V6. It is the same found in the Pilot SUV (which it’s based on), the midsize Passport and the Odyssey minivan.

It’s one of the last remaining naturally aspirated engines, particularly with six cylinders, that doesn’t have forced induction (turbo- or supercharging).

The saga of Honda’s controversial pickup isn’t entirely over

White pickup truck with black trim and bronze wheels driving in a desert landscape with mountains in the background. — The timing couldn’t be more troublesome as Honda was already working on a third-gen replacement.

If you were afraid this was the end of Honda’s controversial, yet beloved pickup, don’t worry. It’s not all over.

Honda was planning to reveal a new, third-gen model later this decade. Because, well, as previously mentioned, the current model is quite old.

“[The] Ridgeline remains an important model in our lineup and one of our top conquest models with unique appeal within the industry pickup segment,” a Honda spokesperson told our friends at CARandDRIVER. “The Ridgeline will continue to play an important role in our product lineup now and in the future.”

Exposed silver metal frame of a pickup truck body without panels or wheels on a gray background. — The Ridgeline is controversial because it uses a car-based crossover-SUV platform, or is basically a Pilot with its rear end chopped off.

The Ridgeline has been a constant source of debate in the pickup world. And that’s all because of its unconventional construction. Pickup purists argue (if irrationally) that it’s not a “true truck,” in the sense that it doesn’t use a body-on-frame chassis like the competition.

Still, fans continue to swear by the model, often citing the Ridgeline’s more crossover SUV-like driving characteristics as a perk. Many also appreciate the Ridgeline for being less extreme than conventional pickups, especially for those who don’t need to make such a jump to a Toyota Tacoma or Ford Ranger.

Availability and pricing

But regardless of where your stance is on the Ridgeline’s existence, Honda reportedly said that it will remain available throughout the 2026 model year. However, that will be dependent on existing dealer and regional inventory once the production pause takes place.

Green Honda Ridgeline pickup truck driving on a dusty dirt road surrounded by trees and rocks.

2026 Honda Ridgeline

Starts at $40,795

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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